Today is your last chance to stand up and defend a free British press - and your right to know.

COMMENT

In an age of fake websites, internet trolls and unregulated social media driven by faceless global algorithms there remains only one source of written news that you can utterly trust.

That is your newspaper and its website.

We investigate. We campaign. We report without fear or favour on everything from contentious planning decisions to threats to your community. We champion where you live. We are on your side.

But unless you support us in a Government-run consultation which closes at 5pm today (Tuesday January 10) we could be held to ransom by anyone who has something to hide and would rather you were kept in the dark.

In a powerful article last week in The Times, reporter Andrew Norfolk, who broke the Rotherham child sex scandal, explained how investigations such as his could be choked off.

We can list countless other examples of public interest journalism that would face the same fate.

A piece of legislation, the Crime and Courts Act of 2013, was introduced as a blunt instrument to bludgeon the Press following the phone hacking scandal - even though the vast majority of newspapers like this one were found entirely innocent of any wrong doing.

That Act not only means we are now liable to pay exemplary damages if we are found in court to have made a mistake, but a sleeping clause known as Section 40 could be awakened - subject to the outcome of this consultation - which would force us to pay both sides costs even if our journalism is entirely vindicated.

Any investigation in the public interest could be silenced by anyone with with a vested interest because they would know that no matter how weak their case nor how robust our journalism we would have to pay their vast costs if they tried to take us to court.

Why was this legislation approved in the first place?

Parliament, still nursing its wounds from the exposure by the Daily Telegraph of its expenses excesses and under the cover of the Leveson inquiry into phone-hacking, hatched a plan - without any industry consultation - to force all newspapers, good or bad, to sign up to a new form of regulation under a Royal Charter.

Quite apart from the anathema that anyone who seeks to hold decision-makers to account should submit to a state-approved regulatory structure - the Royal Charter also imposed huge costs around compensatory arbitration which many regional newspapers simply could not afford (even with a caveat that this might be subsequently reviewed in some cases if the damage was too great).

Instead, the industry established its own new regulator IPSO which costs the taxpayer not a penny but is run entirely independently of us and holds us very effectively to account.

IPSO is tough, forensic and uncompromising with us. But we support it and the Editors’ Code of Practice which it enforces because we know that sometimes we make genuine mistakes and we must be held to account.

This in essence is what we believe Lord Justice Leveson intended and it is working well.

Today, we ask you to support us in our fight for fearless journalism conducted on your behalf.

We cannot afford morally or financially to sign up to the state-sponsored Royal Charter and if the punitive costs clause is enacted by the secretary of state it will have an equally chilling effect.

We need Section 40 to be repealed and we need your help to preserve the future of press freedom and the future of this newspaper’s campaigning reporting.

You can help by completing an online survey. It doesn’t take long and will make all the difference.

· Go to ‘Consultation on the Leveson Inquiry and its implementation’: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-leveson-inquiry-and-its-implementation

· Scroll down the page to ‘Respond Online’ and click.

· Page 1: Introduction. [Click ‘Next’ at bottom of page]

· Page 2: [Tick box ‘Individual’ and then ‘Next’ at the bottom of the page]

· Page 3: [Tick box ‘Neither of the Above’]

· Page 4: Which of the following statements do you agree with? [Tick the third box – ‘Government should ask Parliament to repeal all of s.40 now.’]

· Do you have evidence in support of your view, particularly in terms of the impacts on the press industry and claimants? [Tick box ‘No’]

· Page 5: To what extent will full commencement incentivise publishers to join a recognised self-regulator? Please use evidence in your answer. (Maximum 250 words) [Write answer: ‘It will not.’]

· Page 6: Do you believe that the terms of reference of Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry have already been covered by Part 1 and the criminal investigations? [Tick box: ‘Yes’]

· Page 8: Which of the two options set out below best represents your views? [Tick the second box : ‘Terminate The Inquiry’]

· To finish completing the consultation, click ‘Next’ and then ‘Done’.

Police and crime commissioner Stephen Mold has launched a survey to capture the views and experiences of crime victims in the county.

The survey, which launched today (Tuesday) and runs until January 27, will inform the direction of support services delivered by the PCC’s office.

In October, Mr Mold announced that putting victims at the heart of justice was one of his key priorities for the new Northamptonshire Police and Crime Plan, which is set to be released later this month.

Mr Mold said: “The way people are affected by crime is highly individual and it is imperative that we understand people’s experiences in order to properly support them.

“This is why we have decided to launch the Victims of Crime Survey – to ensure our support services are informed by those who need them.

“Being a victim or witness of crime can be a terrifying experience and we must support and protect people in exactly the way that they need.

“These people have been thrust into the criminal justice system through no fault of their own, and we will be there for them.

“I would urge anyone who has been affected by crime to visit www.victimsofcrimesurvey.co.uk to give us their views, to ensure that they and members of their community are supported by a first-class service informed by the very people who use it.”

The northbound M1 has reopened between junctions 15 and 18 in Northamptonshire after being closed for much of the day following the discovery of a body this morning.

The motorway was reopened at around 1pm by Highways England, although motorists are warned to expect some delays as diverted and queuing traffic clears.

Northamptonshire Police said that the incident was reported to them at about 2am by a lorry driver.

East Midlands Ambulance Service medics and a volunteer doctor attended the scene but the man had already passed away. Detective Sergeant Tony Hopkins of Northamptonshire Police said the injuries caused were 'catastrophic'.

Det Sgt Hopkins said: “We received a call at 2.09am from a lorry driver who believed he’d hit a man. We received several similar calls soon after from motorists heading northbound reporting they had hit a body in the road.

“Police arrived on the scene within 15 minutes. We were able to confirm we had a deceased person on the road between junction 16 and 17.

“We have not been able to identify the man or how he came to be on the motorway this morning.

“We understand that this is an unlit stretch of road in the early hours of the morning, but we are appealing for any witnesses who might have seen a man walking by the road at that time and particularly from anyone with a dashcam.”

Caught between roadworks and the concrete barrier of the motorway, the body was “traveled over several times” by motorists who police say were unlikely to have been able to avoid him.

Anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or 03000 111222 if out the county.

Daventry shoppers helped raise over £200 for Banbury and District Samaritans in the run-up to Christmas.

Daniel Henson, store manager for Tesco Express Daventry decided to raise money for Samaritans through this year’s Christmas charity appeal.

He said “It’s always great to support local charities and my team and colleagues were happy to be able to support such a great cause.”

Davina Birkbeck, branch director, said: “We are so delighted to receive this donation.

“Even though we are all volunteers - we have no paid staff - our branch needs about thirty thousand pounds year to run itself, and, having been part of the community for 42 years, we want to maintain ourselves for another 42 at least!

“This is entirely dependent on donations, so we are very grateful for this boost to our funds.”

Northampton Saints have joined forces with Northamptonshire Sport and Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby by providing taster training sessions.

Wheelchair Rugby is played on a basketball court, with games taking the format of four eight-minute quarters. Teams are made of up to 12 players, with four on court at any one time. Each person has a vital role to play, which is ensured by using a classification system based on muscle function and strength. Classes range from 0.5 to 3.5 and the team of four players must total eight points or less during play.

The Northampton sessions will be based in the sports centre at Weston Favell Academy. The first of four taster sessions for adults aged 16 and over will be held on Monday, January 16, from 7pm-8.30pm. All equipment will be provided by GBWR, including a coach.

Email connorfleming@northamptonsaints.co.uk, or call 01604 599 142.

A stretch of the M1 motorway is set to remain closed for most of the day after a body was found in the road.

The motorway’s northbound carriageway was closed by police at about 3am, Tuesday, January 10, from junctions 16 near Northampton to 17.

Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes and diversions will be in place.

A police investigation into the discovery is under way.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, can police on 101 or 03000111222 if outside of the county.

The following detour is in operation -

via A45 to Weedon, A5 north to Rugby, and A428 back to the M1 (Hollow Triangle signs).

Long-distance traffic from the South East should take the M40 to J15 Warwick, then A46 and M69 north to the M1 at Leicester.

More to follow.

The A14 is currently closed at the junction with the M1 after an HGV overturned.

There are long queues on the eastbound carriageway, and drivers are being urged to follow diversions to avoid the area.

The A14 is closed eastbound between the M1 junction (the Catthorpe interchange) and Junction 1 (Cold Ashby).

Traffic on the M1 southbound are unable to join the A14 at Junction 19, and drivers are being advised to exit the M1 at Junction 15 instead.

There drivers can join the A45 northbound towards Northampton, where they can rejoin the A14 at the Thrapston junction.

Traffic on the M6 southbound are also being advised to join the M1 and follow the same route.

A woman from Northampton has been given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) preventing her from asking for money, gifts, donations or handouts.

Rebecca Wootton, of Addison Road, Abington, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday).

The order prevents her from approaching any member of public or private business in Northamptonshire and asking for money.

The only exceptions are for approaching friends or relatives, if it is related to her everyday employment or connected to a charity or business involved in the lending of money or other items or unless it was money that it was legitimately owed.

Northamptonshire Police said that in court it was said the defendant had visited homes and presented herself in a distressed state, asking to borrow money. Her victims had felt alarmed and upset as a result of her actions, the court was told.

Breaking a Criminal Behaviour Order is a criminal offence.

Police have named the man whose body was found on the M1 in Northamptonshire in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A police spokesman said he had been identified as Ashley Hayes, aged 46, of Shepherd’s Bush, London.

Detective Sergeant Tony Hopkins, from the collision investigation unit, said: “Through our enquiries, we believe that Mr Hayes may have been in the Toddington Services area, in Bedfordshire, at around 1.30am this morning.

“He may have been given a lift from there, or may have hidden himself in a lorry, to enable him to get to where we discovered him.

“We need anyone who was there are the time and may have seen him or witnessed anything suspicious to contact us.”

“This may have been an accident or something more serious. We need to determine the circumstances that led to his death.

“There will be lorry drivers and other motorists who may have driven this stretch of road and some of them may have dash cam footage. We would urge anyone with any information to come forward.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, can police on 101 or 03000111222 if outside of the county.

The family does not wish to be contacted at this stage.

The meeting takes place on Wednesday January 18, and the Rev Peter Privett will be giving a talk entitled ‘Needle Doodling’ to guild members and friends.

The theme of the talk will be looking back over his 30 years of stitching and how techniques and influences have changed.

The talk starts at 7pm until 9pm and takes place at The Abbey Centre, Daventry.

Peter, auxiliary vicar at St Andrews Church in Rugby, is a textile artist is who is well known for his dramatic displays and creations and last summer he had an exhibition on the history of embroidery at St. Andrews Church, Rugby.

A date has been announced for the relocation of West Haddon's post office

West Haddon Post Office is to move to its new location in Londis West End Stores, West End, in the village on Monday February 13 at 1pm.

This will be a new-style local branch whereby Post Office products and services are provided from an open-plan till at the retail counter of the store.

Post Office services will be available seven days a week during the store’s opening hours; Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm; and Sunday 8am to 1pm.

The current branch at 36 High Street, West Haddon will close on Saturday February 11 at 12.30pm.

Suzanne Richardson, Post Office regional network manager, said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.

"We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.”

Couples wanting to tie the knot this year are being invited to apply for a new series of Don’t Tell the Bride.

The popular Sky 1 series is back for a new series in 2017 and is inviting couples wanting to get married this year to apply.

Successful couples will get £14,000 for their big day - but the bride gets absolutely no say in any of it.

Instead, the grooms get to make all the decisions, from the venue, to the colour scheme, the flowers and even that all important dress.

So if you’re brave enough to trust your other half to plan your big day for you, apply now. Just email dttb@applyfortheshow.com.

The introduction of a draconian law designed to force local and national newspapers into a system of statutory press regulation could cost the industry £100 million a year just for telling the truth, the News Media Association has said today.

Submitting its response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s consultation on press regulation, the NMA said Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 was an unfair and undemocratic attack on free speech which would have a chilling effect on newspapers’ ability to report on matters of public interest.

If enacted, the draconian legislation - which has been condemned by global free speech organisations, campaigners, as well as local, national and regional newspaper editors - would mean that newspapers outside of the state-recognised system of regulation would be forced to pay the costs of claimants in legal actions even if the newspaper was found by a court to have told the truth.

NMA chairman Ashley Highfield said: “Section 40 is designed to force newspapers into a system of state-backed regulation which the industry views as entirely unacceptable and incompatible with the principles of free speech.

“Not a single significant publication has signed up to Impress, the state-recognised regulator funded by one wealthy donor, with the vast majority of the industry choosing instead the new tough self-regulatory regime under IPSO which is independent of the industry and completely free from state control.

“Section 40 would have a hugely negative impact upon the press industry both here in the UK and overseas. Newspaper titles would be forced to close and our democracy would be poorer for it. This harmful legislation must be repealed immediately.”

The Leveson Report recommended a system of “voluntary independent self-regulation,” envisaging “a body, established and organised by the industry” which “must be funded by its members”. Lord Justice Leveson said it should include all the major players in the industry – national newspapers and as many regional and local newspaper and magazine publishers as possible - “although I am very anxious that it remain voluntary”.

As part of its submission, the NMA said Impress was “not a genuine regulator” and appeared to have been set up purely as a device to trigger the Section 40 costs sanctions against the press.

The Impress chief executive, a number of its Board members, the chair of its code committee, and even members of the appointment panel which selected the Impress Board, had made clear their profound dislike of some of Britain’s most popular newspapers, with repeated public attacks – some of them personally abusive – supporting advertising boycotts on these titles, and even calling for them to be banned from sale or closed down, the NMA added.

As part of its response, the NMA also said that the Leveson Inquiry should not be reopened because of the changes that have occurred within the press industry and the numerous police and press reviews since the publication of the report over four years ago and the huge cost to the public purse of reopening the inquiry.

In 2012, Lord Justice Leveson himself released a statement questioning the value to be gained from a Part 2, given the “enormous cost,” the fact that material would be years out of date by then, and that it could take even longer than the first inquiry.

A recent YouGov poll found that there is no public appetite for the second part of the Leveson Inquiry with just one per cent of people believing press regulation should be among the Government’s priorities at the current time.

Daventry District Council has rowed back on calling for the government to intervene in the county council’s affairs, saying the details had been released ‘by mistake’.

The call for the Government to step into the affairs of Northamptonshire County Council due to its financial position was included in a report sent out to the press and public via its website ahead of a meeting on Thursday night.

Such committee papers are usually distributed seven days before the meeting. In this case they were sent out on January 4.

Today, Wednesday January 11, DDC contacted people saying the report put online was an early draft that they say had been released by mistake. The items sent directly to councillors contains no call for the government to intervene.

The district claims the county council is failing to balance its budget and will run out of money in just a few years, forcing it into a ‘technical insolvency’ and that the county council is at ‘substantial risk’ of not meeting its financial obligations.

The document went on to state: “It is therefore suggested that the Secretary of State be asked to consider if he needs to intervene now, on the basis that the risk of NCC’s financial failure is too high and needs to be avoided.

“It is recognised that this is an unusual and indeed undesirable step for one local government to take in relation to another, but it is suggested that the current circumstances are sufficiently unusual to justify it.”

The county council denied the claims about its budget, saying it has and will continue to balance its books.

After the news broke about DDC asking the Government to step in, the county council contacted this newspaper to dispute the DDC’s claims on which its recommendation was based. And a day later the district council announced it had sent out the wrong paperwork.

As part of its cost-saving measures, the county council has said it will be exploring a unitary authority for the whole county. A unitary authority would combine the powers and responsibilities of districts and boroughs, and the county council.

Cllr Robin Brown, county council cabinet member for finance, said: “Daventry District Council’s suggestion that the county council is at risk of insolvency is simply untrue and no doubt driven by our intention to explore a unitary authority for Northamptonshire, which would replace all current councils and which we can only assume Daventry sees as a threat.

“We have always and will continue to deliver a balanced budget and the suggestion that we do not have credible plans to deliver the required savings is misinformed and disingenuous at best.

“Northamptonshire County Council’s finances are sustainable and will soon be able to grow into a position of strength over the medium term.”

Northamptonshire could see some snow tomorrow – but county residents have been warned that it won’t settle.

A forecast by Pitsford Weather Centre today (Wednesday) says it is likely that rain in the afternoon will turn into sleet and snow.

The report says: “If the day starts dry tomorrow, it won’t stay that way for long as outbreaks of heavy rain move in from the west through the morning.

“It is likely that this rain will turn increasingly to sleet and snow for a time during the afternoon before clearing south-eastwards by evening.

“Winds will start westerly, easing as the rain approaches; but will then switch to a fresh north-westerly with the arrival of the snow later.

“In fact, the wind could increase still further becoming strong overnight and further snow showers are possible, but chiefly in areas further east.

“Highs will reach 4C, falling overnight to freezing with ice becoming a problem on untreated surfaces, although it is unlikely that we will see any significant accumulations of snow.”

A solicitor’s office in Daventry is back up and running after a fire broke out in their building at the weekend.

The fire broke out on the second floor of Patel and Company Solicitors on Sunday morning.

Proprietor Shashi Patel said: “There was a small electrical fire on the top floor of the building which was contained very quickly.

“The top floor was empty, and we do not store any files or documents there.

“I would like to reassure all our clients, past present and future, that no documents, files or deeds were damaged.

“We have files on the first floor in fireproof cabinets, which were not damaged in any way. And on the ground floor we keep deeds and other documents in a fireproof safe, which were also not damaged.

“There was some disruption for the first few hours of Monday but after that we have been back to business as normal.

“I want to thank all the local people for their help and support.”

The emergency services were alerted after the fire alarm, which is shared between the offices and the neighbouring Saracens Head pub was automatically activated. Staff at the office were also alerted directly when the fire service broke down the door to gain access to the fire.

Planning permission was granted on Wednesday evening for the Daventry canal arm, linking the town to the Grand Union Canal.

Daventry District Council’s planning committee approved the application for the canal.

The 1.6 mile canal arm would run from a basin by the iCon roundabout and the snake along the edge of Daventry Country Park before heading out to the Grand Union Canal.

The application approved by the committee includes six locks, rather than a boat lift. The application also did not deal with the waterfront development proposed for the Eastern Way playing field.

Wednesday night’s meeting saw the council’s planning committee deciding on the application which was made by the district council. Such instances are not uncommon in planning, and members of the planning committee, both those who voted for and against the proposals, where at pains to stick to the rules governing such decisions.

As such members were reminded that it is not a planning committee’s role to consider the economics of any planning application - planning committees do not question house builders if their money could be spent in other ways or if retailers have a business case for their new shop. And that ‘we don’t want it’ is not a valid reason to refuse planning permission. The idea is that planning permission is just that, a legal permission to build rather than a financial or political judgement whether it should be built.

Instead the committee had to base its decision on planning terms.

It was pointed out that the canal proposal has been on the table for more than 10 years, and has been included in various masterplans for the town, and the district’s strategic plans, which have all been open to public consultation. The canal application itself has also been open to public consultation twice - once when it was first lodged, and then in 2016 following revisions.

Officers advised committee members that while members my have spoken for or against the principle of a canal arm in the past, they had not voiced their decision on this particular application for this design of canal, and so could not be said to have predetermined which way they would vote.

The committee was told that many members of the public had objected to the proposals, but that the main reasons given - cost, who will pay for it, and that people don’t want it - are not considerations for planning purposes.

Cllr Deanna Eddon (Conservative) pointed out that among the organisations consulted over the application, most were in favour or had raised concerns that had been dealt with.

Cllr Wendy Randall (Labour) said Daventry already had the Grand Union Canal, which runs along the edge of Lang Farm and Monksmoor, with towpath walks to Braunston and Weedon.

Cllr Ken Ritchie (Labour) questioned whether the application met the definition of sustainable set out in national planning guidelines, and proposed the scheme be rejected on that basis. His proposal failed after no one seconded it.

Then Cllr Mark Wesley (Conservative) spoke saying that the canal should be the “best it could be” and said he had concerns about the design of some of the bridges across it. He added that while wildlife experts had accepted the canal would not pose a insurmountable barrier to animals, that DDC should aspire to go beyond ‘acceptable’.

His Tory colleague Barry Frenchman went further, saying that he was excited by the opportunities of a canal, but described the plans before the committee as ‘an opportunity missed’. He criticised the brick designs for the bridges, and the style of the rest of the canal, saying the district should be looking to the 21st century, not the 18th.

Cllr Frenchman proposed the application be refused because of the design, seconded by Cllr Ritchie. Members voted five in favour of Cllr Frenchman’s proposal and six against.

Those in favour of the application argued that the canal would provide a new pedestrian link from the town out into the countryside and to the existing canal, that it would bring jobs for the construction and maintenance of it, and visitors would come and spend money locally.

Finally Cllr Colin Poole proposed the planning permission be granted. The vote was passed with nine for and two against.

This is not the last hurdle the canal arm plans will face. It is now up to Daventry District Council as a whole to decide if there is a business case for the project and if it has, and it wants to commit, the money to build it. Either way the planning permission will lapse if no work commences within three years.

A train journey spanning barely half the country has been revealed as the country’s most expensive standard class ticket available to passengers.

The anytime return between the Isle of Wight and Derbyshire is priced at £501.40 - even exceeding the cost of fares for journeys between Cornwall and Scotland.

Passengers could travel hundreds of miles further and still save more than £30.

The steep cost of fares has been thrown into focus by the latest annual fare increases - which have led to protests by commuter groups.

A 2.3 per cent rise in England and Wales took effect last week, though the hikes passed on to travellers vary across operators.

The 240-mile journey between Shanklin and Buxton was found by Paul Kelly of BR Fares, an independent website designed for experts to search the complex system of ticketing.

Mr Kelly said: “The Shanklin to Buxton fare is clearly an exorbitant price.

“The fare was also the most expensive standard class fare last year, with a 0.6 per cent increase from last year’s £498.40.

“I suspect the pricing is influenced by the fact that it is intended for travel via London and Manchester, and a London to Manchester Anytime Return costs a similarly absurd £338.”

The fare exceeds even the £467.40 price of an open anytime return between Wick in Scotland and Penzance in Cornwall.

James MacColl, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “With rail passengers battling with complex ticketing which results in these astronomical prices on some routes, it’s clear the fares system needs fundamental reform.

“This should start with an end to the policy of constantly raising fares.

“But without long-overdue improvements like an end to split ticketing and introduction of equal season ticket discounts for part-time commuters, passengers will still be left with an impenetrably complicated and simply unfair ticketing system.”

The fare also shows how proposals in 2013 to cap the price of a return ticket at £500 proved fruitless, despite a £1,000 first class ticket between Cornwall and Scotland being reduced.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents freight and passenger operators, is in discussions with the government about how fares it describes as unwanted and unnecessary can be removed from the system.

A spokesman said: “This particular fare hasn’t been bought by anyone in at least the past four years.

“I imagine that anyone making that journey would use cheaper available options.

“For example, if you catch the first train of the day from Shanklin, by the time you reach Euston an off-peak ticket is valid so, using that, the actual cost would be £151.20 - for a ticket which you can just walk up and buy on the day without the need to book in advance.

“The £501 fare exists because the train operator is required under government regulations to maintain a price for a fully unrestricted ticket for this journey - even if no-one needs or wants to buy it.”

Gritters will be sent out to main roads across Northamptonshire at 1pm to prepare roads for potential snow and sleet.

The highways department’s forecast says rain is expected to sweep in during the afternoon. Most will fall as rain, but there is a small risk of the odd wintry shower, especially later in the afternoon and to higher ground.

As the rain passes this evening cold air could turn trailing edge of the rain into snow.

As such road gritters will be

The forecast says it could lead to up to 1cm of snow falling on ground above 100m, but adds there is a level of uncertainty which means they cannot confidently predict snow will definitely fall.

Overnight temperatures will fall below freezing, coupled with the wet weather today that could mean ice on roads and paths by Friday morning.

On Friday there is a further chance of snow in the county, with the possibility of up to 2cm falling, but the forecast says there is uncertainty over the timing and track of any flurries.

Residents of a village in Daventry district will go to the polls to decide on a development plan for their area.

Voters in Braunston will be asked if they agree with the proposed neighbourhood development plan for their area.

The plan has been put together by Braunston Parish Council in partnership with a village steering group, in order to help guide the future development of the parish area.

A referendum on Thursday February 16 will ask residents of Braunston whether Daventry District Council (DDC) should use the neighbourhood development plan to help decide future planning applications in their area.

For details about how to view the neighbourhood plan go to www.daventrydc.gov.uk/braunstonneighbourhoodplan.

If more than 50 per cent of those who vote are in favour, then DDC is required to ‘make’ the plan so it becomes part of the statutory development plan.

The polling station will be open in Braunston Village Hall from 7am to 10pm on polling day.

Braunston residents who are not already on the electoral register must register by midnight on Tuesday January 31 in order to vote in the referendum. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to apply online at www.gov.uk/registertovote.

Anyone wishing to arrange to vote by post needs to complete an application form and return it to DDC by 5pm on Wednesday, February 1.

Anyone who is unable to get to the polling station, because they are working away or on holiday abroad for example, can apply for a proxy vote. Anyone can act as a proxy provided they are willing to do so and are eligible to vote in the referendum.

In order to cast a vote by proxy people need to complete an application form and return it to DDC by 5pm on Wednesday, February 8.

To apply for a postal or proxy vote please email electoralservices@daventrydc.gov.uk or phone 01327 871100.